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February 10, 2020

Instant Pot Cheesy Ham Chowder

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Instant Pot Cheesy Ham Chowder—a creamy, comforting soup that is chock full of ham, potatoes, carrots and corn. A perfect dinner for a fall or winter evening.

Pin this recipe for later!

Related: SLOW COOKER cheesy ham chowder recipe

white bowl with creamy soup and bacon bits

Instant Pot Cheesy Ham Chowder

How can this recipe be bad when it has cheese, ham and bacon? It can’t. The end.

No but really, this is a solid chowder recipe that you’re going to love!

Notes about the ingredients:

Potatoes–I used yellow yukon gold potatoes. I didn’t peel my potatoes because I like the skins. Red and russet potatoes also work just fine. Peel or unpeeled it’s up to you!

Corn–I like frozen corn over canned corn but really both would work. If you end up using canned corn drain it before adding it into the pot.

Half and half–this is found by the heavy cream and basically it’s just half cream and half whole milk. Other options include whole milk or evaporated milk.

Ham–because it’s not the day after Easter I didn’t have any leftover ham. I bought a couple packages of cubed ham that are sold next to the whole hams. This definitely made prep time faster!

Bacon crumbles–I buy these in a big bag from Costco. It makes cooking easier. You can also use 10 slices of bacon that has been cooked and crumbled.

Sharp cheddar–I like to use sharp cheddar in recipes like this because you get the more intense flavor with less cheese.

Pin this recipe for later!

white bowl with creamy soup and bacon bits

More Amazing Instant Pot Soup Recipes…

Instant Pot Garlic Parmesan Sausage Chowder

Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings

Instant Pot Chicken Bacon Chowder

Instant Pot Chicken Pot Pie Soup

Instant Pot Creamy Wild Rice And Chicken Soup

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white bowl with creamy soup and bacon bits
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Instant Pot Cheesy Ham Chowder


★★★★★

4.9 from 9 reviews

  • Author: 365 Days of Slow and Pressure Cooking
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 3 minutes (plus 5-10 minute NPR)
  • Total Time: 38 minutes
  • Yield: 8 1x
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Description

A creamy, comforting soup that is chock full of ham, potatoes, carrots and corn. A perfect dinner for a fall or winter evening. 


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 cup diced onion
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 2 cups sliced carrots
  • 2 1/2 cup diced potatoes (peeled or with skins on…any variety of potato will work, I used yellow)
  • 1 1/2 cups frozen corn
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 1/4 tsp dried thyme
  • 2 cups cubed ham
  • 2 cups half and half
  • 3 Tbsp cornstarch
  • 1/2 cup bacon crumbles
  • 1 1/2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese

Instructions

  1. Turn your Instant Pot to the saute setting. When the display says HOT add in the oil and swirl it around. Add in the onion and saute for about 4 minutes. Pour in the broth.
  2. Add in the carrots, potatoes, corn, pepper, thyme and ham. Turn off the saute setting.
  3. Cover the pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the SOUP button to 3 minutes (if you don’t have a SOUP button just use the manual/pressure cook button). When the time is up let the pot sit for 5-10 minutes and then move the valve to venting. Remove the lid.
  4. Stir ¼ cup of hot broth into the half and half and stir to temper it. Then pour the half and half into the pot. In a small bowl stir together 3 Tbsp of cornstarch with 3-4 Tbsp of water, until smooth. Then pour the mixture into the Instant Pot. Turn your Instant Pot to the saute setting. The cornstarch mixture will thicken up contents of pot quickly. Stir in the bacon and cheddar. Turn off the saute setting.
  5. Ladle into bowls and serve. 

Notes

I used my 6 quart Instant Pot Duo 60 7 in 1*. You can make this in your 8 quart with no changes. For the 3 quart pot halve all the ingredients and keep the cooking time the same. 

Recipe adapted from Taste of Home

  • Category: Soup
  • Method: Instant Pot

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*Karen Petersen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

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44 Comments Filed Under: All Recipes, Gluten Free, Instant Pot, Ham, Soups

Recommendations

Comments

  1. Jeannie says

    February 2, 2023 at 3:23 pm

    Made this last night and it was excellent! Will definitely make it again.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Karen says

      February 3, 2023 at 12:14 pm

      Thanks so much for coming back to review the recipe! I really appreciate that.

      Reply
  2. Rob Heckman says

    September 3, 2022 at 8:46 pm

    Unless you direct me otherwise, I am making a slight change to this recipe. Instead of adding oil to the instant pot to saute the onions and start the recipe, since crumbled bacon needs to be added later, I am going to saute the chopped uncooked bacon in the pot first and when done I will remove it and use the residual bacon fat to start the recipe. Will that method change the flavor profile too much or will it work fine?

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Karen says

      September 6, 2022 at 4:11 pm

      That will be amazing!!

      Reply
    • Mary says

      February 12, 2023 at 9:36 am

      I’m going to make this tonight. I’ve made it on the stove before. I too will fry the bacon first. I used 4 strips.

      Reply
  3. Jen says

    September 2, 2022 at 4:40 pm

    I made this exactly as written with the exception of the corn starch slurry. I like using instant potato flakes to thicken any potato based soup. Adds a more robust flavor and more nutrients as well.

    This was my first time making a ham chowder and I will definitely be making it again!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      September 6, 2022 at 4:17 pm

      I love that idea Jen!

      Reply
  4. Liz P says

    January 17, 2021 at 11:53 am

    Gonna make this tonight. What should I serve with it?

    Reply
    • Karen says

      January 18, 2021 at 2:13 pm

      Cornbread is my fave!

      Reply
  5. Sherry says

    January 14, 2021 at 2:16 pm

    Would I be able to freeze leftovers? It is just my husband and I. I am looking for meals that I can freeze for him when I am gone for 2 weeks.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      January 14, 2021 at 3:56 pm

      yes you could!

      Reply
      • Sherry says

        January 15, 2021 at 6:15 pm

        Thank you. Tonight I made Garlic Parmesan Bacon Chicken, with rice (pip). It was excellent!!! Thanks for the great recipes.

        Reply
        • Karen says

          January 16, 2021 at 5:34 pm

          You’re welcome 😊😊😊

          Reply
  6. Jamie says

    January 11, 2021 at 4:06 pm

    Full of awesome flavor. Great for a cold snowy evening!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Karen says

      January 11, 2021 at 5:49 pm

      Glad you liked it Jamie!

      Reply
  7. Robbi Arnold says

    January 9, 2021 at 3:22 pm

    Mmmm turned out so great. Love it. Took alot of prep but totally worth it

    Reply
    • Karen says

      January 11, 2021 at 8:07 pm

      So glad it was worth it!

      Reply
  8. Katrina Austin says

    December 26, 2020 at 6:45 pm

    Turned out delish. I used half as much onion and added some fresh garlic. Also a tad less thyme, otherwise it’s over powering. Simple and yummy.

    ★★★★

    Reply
    • Karen says

      December 28, 2020 at 9:00 pm

      Glad you liked it Katrina!

      Reply
  9. Liz P says

    December 1, 2020 at 11:24 am

    Can this be made without the carrots? I’m out and we are in the middle of a blizzard and I want to make this to use up my thanksgiving honey baked ham.

    Thank you!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Karen says

      December 1, 2020 at 6:12 pm

      Yes should be just fine. Good luck with the blizzard!!!

      Reply
  10. Susan says

    November 11, 2020 at 1:41 pm

    Yum and yum! I added a large stalk of celery with the onion to feel it was healthier. Definitely adding this to my list of favorites! Great especially for cold weather. This isn’t like other things i cook…Great for adding variety to our meal plan. In the future, I’ll chop everything in the morning so it will take almost no time at all.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Karen says

      November 12, 2020 at 12:10 pm

      I like those ideas Susan!

      Reply
  11. Catherine says

    March 28, 2020 at 12:48 pm

    Hi. Has anyone tried making this with a lower fat milk?

    Reply
    • Karen says

      March 28, 2020 at 9:23 pm

      I’m sure it would be fine, just not as flavorful 🙂

      Reply
  12. Brenda Johnston says

    March 23, 2020 at 1:26 pm

    Karen…I made this for dinner last night and it was awesome! It was incredibly creamy and very easy, I did however add some chopped celery in with the onions to be sauteed at the beginning. Also we added our own bacon at the end as I prefer mine very much done and the rest of my family doesn’t! I’ve had my Insta Pot for about 3 weeks now, and I just love it!!! Thanks you for all of the yummy recipes….can’t wait to see which one I get e-mailed next!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      March 23, 2020 at 1:28 pm

      Brenda, I’m so happy to hear you loved this. I like the idea of the celery!

      Reply
  13. Dawn says

    February 18, 2020 at 4:21 pm

    Made this tonight for 1st time. We had to force ourselves to save some for later. Definitely on our favs. Thanks Karen for all your yummy recipes.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Karen says

      February 19, 2020 at 9:55 am

      Haha! Good self restraint Dawn 🙂

      Reply
  14. Ann-Marie Hartshorn says

    February 17, 2020 at 9:06 am

    Can this be made in a crockpot?

    Reply
    • Karen says

      February 18, 2020 at 3:45 pm

      Here is a crockpot recipe: https://www.365daysofcrockpot.com/slow-cooker-cheesy-ham-chowder/

      Reply
  15. Sandra says

    February 13, 2020 at 10:09 pm

    Both my husband and I gave it 10 out of 10.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Karen says

      February 15, 2020 at 7:50 pm

      Yay!!!!!

      Reply
  16. Katt says

    February 13, 2020 at 4:47 pm

    I made this tonight and it was a hit! It came together fast and was very easy. Will make this again!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Karen says

      February 15, 2020 at 7:56 pm

      So glad to hear this Katt! Thanks for sharing 🙂

      Reply
  17. Allison says

    February 12, 2020 at 3:44 pm

    I have a family member that is allergic to milk. Do you have ideas about a substitute that would still make it creamy? I know i could leave the cheese out and serve it on the side…

    Reply
    • Karen says

      February 13, 2020 at 10:59 am

      How about coconut milk?

      Reply
      • Crystal Bessant says

        November 6, 2020 at 3:57 pm

        Or maybe unsweetened oat milk. Love your recipes Karen, thank you so much for doing what you do!

        Reply
    • Jason says

      February 17, 2020 at 6:41 pm

      I usually use an almond based coffee creamer in place of cream, just make sure to find an unsweetened/unflavored one

      Reply
  18. PamG says

    February 10, 2020 at 3:47 pm

    Will this fit in an 8 qt doubled?

    Reply
    • Karen says

      February 11, 2020 at 12:29 pm

      I bet it would!

      Reply
  19. DONNA GILBERT says

    February 10, 2020 at 2:03 pm

    Since I am on Keto, would it change too much to leave the potatoes out?

    Reply
    • Linda says

      February 10, 2020 at 6:28 pm

      If you are on keto, you will also have to leave out the corn as it is a high carb veg. You could also leave out the potatoes and use cauliflower instead. Make it your own.

      Reply
    • Karen says

      February 11, 2020 at 12:29 pm

      I would sub it with cauliflower florets!

      Reply

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Hi, I’m Karen. I know that dinner time can be less than relaxing. Busy schedules and cranky kids and a hundred other things can lead to weariness when it comes to putting dinner on the table. I can help! I make homemade, family-friendly slow cooker and Instant Pot dinners and share the recipes with you.

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